Azrial's arrow adds to the toll of damage being done to the slime before its primitive nervous system can quite register that it's under attack. Desynthia waits patiently for it to go by her.
Then it surges forward toward the party like a tidal wave of compost, its malleable substance easily conforming to the shape of the narrow tunnel. Desynthia sends a blast of fire over it from her borrowed wand, but it has the same effect as Erica's alchemical attack--which is to say, none. It ignores her and bowls into the fighter and holy knight.
Erica and Astingaire, DC 14 Reflex saves to avoid being engulfed. If you fail the save, take 5 HP damage and give me a DC 16 Fort save.
Round 2:
Initiative order
Azrial-
Desynthia-
Astingaire
Erica
Nala
Slime mold-
Nala yells, just a bit too late, "Watch out, it's faster than..."
With pursed lips in concentration she bolts back past the archer pulling her trident as she goes, "Stab it or keep shooting, fire isn't doing a thing!"
Nala stabs the creature, and the cumulative damage to its substance is finally too much for it. It collapses into a considerably less mobile and hostile pile of rot.
Out of combat, but don't forget the Reflex saves!
Also, you're on the clock as far as Janira goes, so keep track of your time.
Bobbie, why are you taking a -4 penalty on your reflex saves? That AC penalty should (as far as I know) only apply to dex/str skill checks, not reflex saves. Unless it's for something else.
Nala shouts and points to the exit to the west, "Hurry, we need to see if Janira is okay!"
Since the only immediate effect of Astingaire missing his Reflex save will be that he takes a bit of damage, I'll move on to the next part.
The party hustles forward. On reaching the end of the tunnel on the map, those in the lead can see light up ahead, and the sound of Janira's oratory is much clearer. It's only another few seconds to reach the mouth of the cave. The bright moonlight provides a welcome reprieve from the blue and green phosphorescence of the fungi in the caverns below, and it illuminates a stream whose flow is swelled by runoff from a recent storm further up the mountains. A ledge to the west rises up to the nearby forest canopy.
Below, you can see Janira and the minotaur. Its axe is broken and it's taken a few minor wounds, but Janira seems to have gotten the worst of the exchange between them--she's seriously wounded. As you emerge, she catches sight of you and shouts to her taurine foe: "You vile beast! I know not what drives your black heart, but I shall not fail in my duty. I shall see you driven from this forest, back to the hills from whence you came!"
Round 4 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Janira-acted
Astingaire
Azrail
Nala
Erica
Desynthia
Minotaur
Panting with exertion, the halfling takes a quick step backwards and tries to trip the minotaur. Although she comes close to entangling its legs with her whip, the creature's size and strength allow it to keep its footing.
Everyone can act! Note that crossing the log will not be easy, as it looks to be quite slippery.
Spotting the halfling furiously battling, Azrail rushes forward and takes aim. "Let yous wounds fuel you in the name of Zon Kuthon! We are here to help you Janira!" he calls out...releasing an arrow across the vast field.
Longbow,ic:1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19 for Piercing:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 x3 Crit; 100ft Range
I have precise shot and this makes it first range increment if my math is right. :-)
Erica, the map is on the second slide, not the last one.
Neither Erica nor Astingaire are able to match Azrial's accuracy, alas. Desynthia moves and starts to conjure.
On seeing the party, the minotaur roars out a challenge, then steps up and tries to finish off the annoying halfling. Janira dodges multiple blows from its axe, but can't quite avoid its already-encrimsoned horns. The attack doesn't quite drop her, though.
Round 5 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Janira-acted
Astingaire
Azrail-acted
Nala-acted
Erica
Desynthia
Minotaur
Janira takes another step back out of its range, draws a bag from her belt, and hurls it at the minotaur's feet. It bursts, sending sticky goo all over her foe's hooves. It can't immediately pull free.
Meanwhile, the (for now) golden haired sorceress, turn her hands to the side, before bringing them forward, unleashing a ray of energy on the minotaur, which strikes its massive chest
I don't know why, but I had the urge of shouting "Kamehameha". I barely resisted.
Heavenly Fire (Sp): Starting at 1st level, you can unleash a ray of heavenly fire as a standard action, targeting any foe within 30 feet as a ranged touch attack. Against evil creatures, this ray deals 1d4 points of damage + 1 for every two sorcerer levels you possess. This damage is divine and not subject to energy resistance or immunity. This ray heals good creatures of 1d4 points of damage + 1 for every two sorcerer levels you possess. A good creature cannot benefit from your heavenly fire more than once per day. Neutral creatures are neither harmed nor healed by this effect. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. Heavenly fire 1/6, Summon eagle 1/3 rounds. Not sure if Inspired adds to spell damage like Heavenly fire
Desynthia, you're over 100 feet away from the minotaur, so your heavenly fire won't reach it. Also, the eagle has to appear within 30 feet of you, so although it can reach the minotaur this round it won't get a full attack.
Stepping a bit closer, Azrail takes aim and looses another arrow. Stumbling at just the wrong time as some rocks shift beneath his feet, the arrow goes wide.
Nala glares at the human and bites her tongue instead of saying what comes to mind. She continues forcing her way through the forest.
The little voice in her head reassures her. It's okay, he's just taking out his incompetence on you. Pay him no heed.
Double Move. 45 ft gets her to right before the log. If the log is more difficult terrain then she only gets 5ft onto it. If the log requires acrobatics but doesn't slow her, then she might get 15ft onto it. I put both Nala possibilities on the map.
Erica and Astingaire have the range, now, and put a couple more projectiles into the minotaur. The mountainside echoes with its roar of pain and anger. Despite the rage of the great beast, Desynthia moves closer to the action. Her conjured eagle stoops on the minotaur but misses it in its haste.
The minotaur struggles to break free of the sticky goo, but is held fast.
Round 6 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Janira-acted
Astingaire
Azrail-
Nala-
Erica
Desynthia
Minotaur
Janira breathes a sigh of relief and flees towards the party, continuing her oratorical inspirations. In a nod to Desynthia, she punctuates her discourse on famous Pathfinders of history with a cry of "Keep it up, Paffies!"
Party up!
Crossing the log at half speed requires a DC 7 Acrobatics check to avoid slipping and falling. At that point, it's a Reflex save to avoid falling into the swiftly-rushing stream (and presumably being carried away, unless one is a competent swimmer).
Dice rolls:
Tanglefoot bag duration:2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 Minotaur DC 17 STR check to break free:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Janira: 5 HP remaining
Minotaur: AC 14 T 9 FF 14 HP taken: 17
Nala, I should have specified--it's a single check to cross even if you only make it partway in a round, so your Acrobatics roll from last round will be enough for you to make it at half speed.
Desynthia's celestial eagle stoops on the minotaur, beak and talon drawing blood. Nala advances to support Janira, and Azrial puts another arrow into the great bull-man. Erica winds her crossbow, lethal intent clear on her face. Astingaire's shot glances off of the minotaur's tough hide.
The minotaur gives up on trying to pull free, and instead cuts the remaining goo from its hooves with a single blow of its broken axe. It chops again at the eagle harrying it, not doing any damage with its axe but getting it close enough to gore for 3 HP, Desynthia.
Round 7 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Janira-acted
Astingaire
Azrail-
Nala-
Erica
Desynthia
Minotaur
Janira scuttles agilely along the slippery log, getting most of the way across.
Nala steps back to continue covering the retreating halfling and force the minotaur to come at her. She raises her shield, braces the butt end of her trident in the ground with her foot and yells, "COME AT ME!"
5-ft Step, Ready (w/ brace* & defensively fighting) to Attack if the Minotaur charges her. IF it does charge her AND the readied goes off, her AC is 20.
*Brace: If you use a readied action to set a brace weapon against a charge, you deal double damage on a successful hit against a charging character (see Combat).
Desynthia's conjured eagle tears gobbets of flesh from the minotaur before returning to the Outer Planes. The minotaur looks as though it's about to break and run from Nala's challenge, but its time has run out. Erica gets her crossbow wound up and loaded, and puts a bolt between its eyes. It collapses in a bloody heap.
Out of combat!
Panting with exhaustion, Janira takes a moment to catch her breath before congratulating you. "Wonderful job, Pathfinders! I see you know the part of the Society motto that usually goes without saying: explore, report, cooperate...and survive. Tell me what you found!"
| HP 17/20 | AC 16 T 11 FF 15 | CMB +3, CMD 14 | F: +1, R: +4, W: +3; +4 vs. bardic performance, language-dependent, and sonic | | Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)| Spells: 1st lvl - 3/3 | Active conditions: NONE! Init: +1 | Perc: +1, SM: +4
Skills:
Appraise +6, Diplomacy +8, Heal +6, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (religion) +8, Linguistics +6, Perception +4, Perform (act) +8, Sense Motive +4, Sleight of Hand +6, Spellcraft +7, UMD +8
"We uncovered a one-time shrine to Aroden, the Living God." Astingaire replies as he catches his breath. "It was, unfortunately, in some disrepair, but it bore representations of a number of his guises as well as a model of his city, Absalom."
"We also encountered one of the gillmen, who you mentioned had been seen entering the caves where the shrine was found." he continues. "We engaged with the man, who was bathing in one of the pools. He confirmed that others of his kind had come to the place before. It would seem that they, too, find the place to be sacred, though they did not seem to realize its connection to Aroden."
"We also concluded that the caves pose quite a hazard to the gillmen, between deadly molds and pits. Their bodies appear to have provided some raw materials for use by an enterprising necromancer." he explains further. "That is, until his 'enterprise' turned on him and devoured his flesh."
The halfling gratefully accepts her backpack and items, using the wand to heal herself up. "Write down your reports quickly, while the events are still fresh in your minds. I see you've done that, Nala. Good job! Now, we can rest, and then go back in if you'd like. You answered the important questions, though, so if you want to get back to Absalom that's all right, too."
And we're done! Thanks for playing, I hope you all enjoyed the game, I'll get the chronicles out shortly, and then set up for the next game.
